GUWAHATI, July 9 - The market located along the stretch from Beltola Tiniali to Jayanagar Chariali generates almost Rs 1 crore of revenue per year for the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). The revenue is collected by the GMC through the lessees appointed through a tendering process.
Although the market has become a 'cash cow' for the Municipal Corporation, it has become a cause of major inconvenience to the people.
In this market, hundreds of small and medium vegetable traders along with other vendors run their businesses generally twice a week - Thursday and Sunday. During those two days, around 80 per cent of the road remains occupied by those traders, which results in horrific traffic congestions in and around the locality.
On the other hand, every day of a week, a section of garment vendors run their business literally on the road.
Explaining the problems posed by the market to the local residents of the area, Nikul Kalita, a resident of the locality, said, �This market is a large trading centre for vegetables in the city. But due to mismanagement of the authority concerned, it has now become a problem for us. As there is no alternative road, traffic congestion is the major concern for all of us during the market days. Earlier, the market ran only for two days, but now, some vendors run their business throughout the week. So, the problem is getting worse day by day.�
Earlier, there were some government rules in place, which restricted the market�s functioning during office hours.
Kalita informed that the GMC had earlier proposed to shift the market to a nearby abandoned place where construction of a multi-storey building to be used for the market was in progress. But due to some unknown reasons, the construction of the building has not been completed yet, he said.
Meanwhile, the role of police on the issue of market-induced traffic congestion is also mysterious.
When this correspondent visited the market and talked to the traffic personnel present at Beltola Tiniali, they categorically stated that as the higher officials are reluctant to take any action to mitigate the problem, they are helpless to do anything in this regard.
�The problem has been there for a long time. But we could not do anything as our higher officials don�t want to take any step,� said a traffic police personnel present there.
A local resident on condition of anonymity informed that many persons ranging from higher administrative officials to political leaders get their benefits from this market.
�The problem will not be solved because it is an illegal source of income for many well-known persons. A section of people run the market in mafia style. Even, we have not seen the implementation of GMC rules here," he said.
Reacting to the issue, Murtaza Ahmed, an office-bearer of the Guwahati Fruit and Vegetable Sellers Association, said, �Running a market on a busy road is the violation of a Supreme Court verdict. Not only this market but other such markets are also being run in some areas of the city right under the nose of the GMC. We have approached the GMC umpteen times to take some measures but no action has been taken by the authority concerned in this regard till date. This is because some corrupt officials of the GMC get monthly income from such illegal markets.�
Sidhartha Goswami, who looks after the market section of the GMC, stated that the construction of a market place nearby to shift the existing market of Beltola Tiniali is under way, but could not tell when the construction work would be completed.
